2006 Dark Tobacco Seed Source X Variety Trial

By Andy Bailey

Seed lots of Narrowleaf Madole, KY 171, and KT D4LC were obtained from each of
the three seed companies marketing dark tobacco seed in Kentucky and Tennessee
(Rickard, Workman, and Newton). These varieties represent over 60% of the dark
tobacco grown in 2005. All seed sources were screened for low nornicotine
conversion. Media source used was Premier Pro Mix TA. Standard Speedling (288
cell) float trays were filled with media using a standard gravity-fed media
box. Seed from each source and variety were sown into three trays (3
replications) using an ABC Quick Seederä.
All seed were sown on March 22, 2006 and trays were completely randomized and
floated on a standard float bed in a typical poly-covered greenhouse. A
nitrogen level of 100 ppm was achieved with 15-5-15 water-soluble fertilizer
applied to the float bed water on April 3, 2006. Temperatures were maintained
in a range of 60 to 88 oF. Percent germination and spiral rooting
were measured at 14 and 21 days after seeding (April 5 and April 12).
Germination and spiral rooting was affected by seed source and variety at 14 and
21 days after seeding. For more information contact the author at:
abailey@uky.edu

Table 1.Effect of seed source and variety on
germination at 14 days after seeding*.

Seed
Source

Variety

Rickard

Workman

Newton

LSD0.05

-------------------% Germination
------------------

(seed source)

Narrowleaf Madole

91.0

91.8

89.9

6.3

KY 171

91.9

89.1

96.2

6.4

KT D4LC

94.5

94.6

92.5

6.4

LSD0.05 (variety)

5.3

4.7

6.9

Table 2. Effect of seed source and variety on
spiral rooting at 14 days after seeding*.

Seed Source

Variety

Rickard

Workman

Newton

LSD0.05

----------------- % Spiral Rooting
-----------------

(seed source)

Narrowleaf Madole

12.7

8.9

5.9

6.2

KY 171

2.1

2.4

3.1

4.1

KT D4LC

6.8

6.3

5.9

4.1

LSD0.05 (variety)

4.3

4.1

6.2

Table 3.Effect of seed source and variety on
germination at 21 days after seeding*.

Seed Source

Variety

Rickard

Workman

Newton

LSD0.05

--------------------------- % Germination
-----------------------

(seed source)

Narrowleaf Madole

92.0

91.8

91.8

1.3

KY 171

92.0

89.1

97.0

4.6

KT D4LC

94.6

95.1

92.5

6.8

LSD0.05 (variety)

4.5

4.6

4.9

Table 4. Effect of seed source and variety on
spiral rooting at 21 days after seeding*.

Seed Source

Variety

Rickard

Workman

Newton

LSD0.05

-------------------------- % Spiral
Rooting -----------------------

(seed source)

Narrowleaf Madole

11.2

5.4

4.9

3.1

KY 171

1.0

1.4

2.0

0.9

KT D4LC

4.3

4.4

2.6

3.4

LSD0.05 (variety)

2.0

2.9

2.9

*In all tables,
values within a column (within a seed source) or within a row (within a variety)
that differ by the LSD value shown for that column or row are significantly
different at the 95% confidence level.